Door-to-door service combines local and global muscle

The energy sector in particular presents major opportunities in the project cargo arena, says Margrit Wolff, managing director of Mercury Freight. The company opened its doors for business on June 1 this year with a major emphasis on project cargo. “We are at this stage looking at predominantly the sub- Saharan African region and have teamed up with specialists in the area who are experts at what they do. Yes, we are slightly late on the uptake as the energy sector has been developing at a significant rate, but we can still exploit the opportunities,” she says. Working closely with clients to determine and define their logistical and operational needs, Mercury Freight will undertake consultancy and project management roles. It will assist in developing workable logistics progammes to ensure materials and equipment are efficiently shipped and delivered to their designated job sites, providing a door-to-door, fully integrated and managed operation, said Wolff. Mercury’s services will predominantly benefit companies operating in the oil, gas and energy industries, who are expanding their existing interest or require assistance in setting up grass roots operations in difficult and undeveloped areas, she added. “We are supported by a network of international partners that allows Mercury Freight to expand its operations to provide specialist project management logistics operations across sub-Saharan Africa. In this regard we have engaged highly experienced oil, gas and energy specialists to support this initiative.” And with Wolff’s wealth of knowledge in dealing with Africa, it is a muscular combination. “As Africans we have an advantage over our European and American counterparts who are rapidly entering the African market,” she says. “We know what we are dealing with in terms of the conditions and we have a much better understanding and grasp of the logistics and infrastructure that one has to deal with on a daily basis.” INSERT ‘We have a much better understanding of the logistics and infrastructure that one has to deal with on a daily basis.’ CAPTION Margrit Wolff … ‘As Africans we have an advantage.’